Automobile fendeb guaed



Jan. '31, 1928.

O; E. STOKES AUTOMOBILE FENDER GUARD Filed April 2, 1925 2 sheets sheet 1 Oscar 6 67% (Ear Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,690

' 0. E. STOKES AUTOMOBILE FENDER GUARD F11 5 April 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 (R P, i' V I zz '1 j I 5 22 [H r I 3 J9 I lfl ifieses g Z3 am" 5.92 few zMw f/% Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

OSCAR E. STOKES, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE FENDER euann.

Application filed April 2,1925. Serial No. 20,194.

relates more particularly to a device adapt-f ed to be mounted on an automobile or like vehicle at the rear on either side thereof so as to protect the fenders and body from impact at the rear. The invention has pan ticularly as an object the productlon of an attractive, light-weight guard which will be resilient or yieldable to some extent and yet rigid and firm enough to perform its function without shock or distortion under O1Cllnary circumstances. Among the objects of the invention is the production of a device of the kind described which is simple, compact, light-weight, of pleasing appearance, durable, adapted for use on various makes of automobiles, and which may be readily attached thereto. The invention has particularly as an object the production of t device that does not require the manufacture of rights and lefts, but which may be interchangeably used on either side. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the descrip- "tion herein given.

To this end, my invention consists of the novel construction, arrangement and com bination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts; i Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a. veh cle shown in dotted lines with a pair of my 1mproved guards attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken tia-lly on line 1- 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. Sis a sectional view taken tially on line 5-5 of Fig.2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken tially on line 66 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken tially on line 7-7 of F1g. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in which only a preferred embodiment of the invention 1s shown, 1 and 2 represent spaced impact bars which are preferably bent or curved in the substansubstansubstanform of an are, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, these bars being of the desired size,

shape and material, preferably of spring substair,

metal of considerable strength. There is also provided a supporting bar 3 which is connected with the tie members 1-4: which connect and tie the members or bars 1 and 2 together at their ends. The device is at tachcd to the vehicle frame or other part by means of bracket 6 hereinafter described. As shown, the supporting bar 3 consists of a straight intermediate portion which is secured to the bracket (5, one end being slightly curved or bent as indicated at Tfor attachment to the outer tie member t, while the other end is bent laterally as indicated at 8, but in the opposite direction of the other end, and thence back upon itself as indicated at 9, the bar being shaped to best fit the particular make ofcar upon which the same is to be used.

Members l-.t are similar and each con sists of the body portion 5 which I prefer to form with the portions 10-10 at the ends, extending inwardly toward each other, as most clearly shown in Fig. 6. These membersare spaced from the body portion 5 a distance suilicient to permit the positioning of the ends of the bars 1 and 2 between the body and the portions 10. There is provided a plate 11 arrranged to be mounted on the body portion 5, the ends of 5 being preferably formed as indicated at 12 so as to overlie and form a finished appearance. It is preferred to provide the beads or flanges 13 on theplate member 11 at opposite sides, the same being so spaced as to closely lit at one side the ends of the extensions 10 and also engage at the other side with the supporting bar 3 at the sides thereof adjacent its ends, it being understood. that one end of 3 is secured to one tie member and the opposite end to the other tie member. The several bars 1, 2 and 3 are secured to the tie members by bolts 14 and 15 or equivalent means for the purpose. It will be noted by referring particularly to Fig. 7 that the tie members l: are preferably rounded or flanged over at the sidesof the body as indicated at 16, so that they are substantially recessed and constructed to provide a finish and make the same more attractive. The ends of the impact bars are seatedin these recesses. The barsand tie members may be finished in any suitable way, either japanning, nickel plating or the like.

I prefer to secure each of the guards to the vehicle, as for example the vehicle frame men'lbers 21, by brackets (3 before mentioned.

These brackets'may be similar, lefts and rights not being necessary, as the same are interchangeable for'eitherside, and as shown consistof a web portion19 flanged about the same, as shown, and constructed with a base Y portion20 arranged to be m'oi'inted on the frame and secured thereto by U-bolts 22 and suitablenuts 28 or equivalent means for the purpose. The same is PIOYlClGClWlth a clamp ior the bar 3'consisting of the opposed perti'ons 2d and 25, which are constructed to 'provide a clamp, 26 being the clamping screw Ior boltQ The bar 3-is extended in the f clamp andthen clamped down by the bolts 2b, two of'whic'h are generally provided for ,the purpose. The clamp is made of sui'dcient guard held in proper position to maintain thebarsl and 2 in vertical alignment. It

I is obvious .thatfor different designs of vehicles in which the "frame portions 21 are varied in arrangement, therelative angle between the base 20 and the clamping member ,2 t 2e may be varied, so that the bars are held as mentioned, .The fitting may be moved up or -down on the frame and the -.guard adjusted in the litting so as to locate the guard n a; desired position relat1ve the vehicle tenders and other parts.

The devlce described as comparatively light-weight, notwithstanding its extreme l'lglCllty gtIlCl strength.. especially at- V) tractive inappearance, inasmuch as the ends are enclosed and the construction permits a pleasing design. The bar parts aresecurely locked together in such a manner that they cannot rattleuor work loose, nor can either end sag except by distorting the supporting bar or breaking; the bracket. In

ythe case of alblow being struck on the 'guard, it is opposed by the two outer bars,

as well'as the inner bar, that is, opposed byall three, and in such a manner that the parts may yield oi-"spring wlthout any -permanent set. At the outer side, a side blow tends to spring or curve the bars 1 and 2, as Well as the bar 3, the latter. tending to yield at some pointbetweenlthe bracket and the end. At the inner side or end, where there is greater chance for a hard blow being struck, the shock is distributed from the end 9 through thebends to the bracket, the

strain on the intermediate portion adjacent the bracket being relieved tosome extent by the absorption 0f the shockin the end portion. This tends to prevent any serious distortion of the support f3 at. either side or" the bracket or injury to the bracket. It will benotedthat by. making straight the ntermediate portion which passes through I the bracket, the guard may be adjusted in or out as desired.

This is a desirable feature, as different users may desire (li'lierent adjustments, depending upon the equipment carried at the rear of the car.

Having thus described my invention, it obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangen'ient and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a resilient bumper consist.- ine' of aplurality of spaced parallel bars,

means for securing the ends and tying; said bars together at their :tree ends each including a recessed tie member and cooperating plate secured thereto, a supporting bar arranged on one side of said bars, said bar secured to said plates and connecting said tying means, and means for securing saidsupporting bar to a vehicle frame with the spaced parallel bars arranged one above the other, with their impact faces in the same vertical plane.

2. In a vehicle fender guard of the kind described and in combination, a plurality of spaced impact bars, tie members, said tie members recessed to receive the ends 01': said impact bars, a plate mounted on each of said tie members, means for securing said impact bars, tie members and plates together, a supporting bar and means for securing said supporting bar to said plates, and

means for attaching said supporting bar to the vehicle.

3. In a vehicle fender guard of the kind described, a plurality of spaced curved i1npact bars, a pair of tie members, said tic members recessed. to receive the ends of said impact bars and arranged one at each end thereof, a plate n'iounted on each ol. said tic members, means for securing said impact bars, tie members and plates together to provide a unitary structure, a resilient supporting bar and means for securing the ends of said supporting bar to said plates, andmeans for attaching said supporting bar to the vehicle, with the impact bars lying in the same vertical plane.

4. In a vehicle tender guard of the kind described and in combination, a plurality of tie members, each recessed from one side and having an opening on an adjacent side into the recess, impact bars connecting said. tie members and arranged with their ends seated in said recesses at either side of the last-mentioned opening, a. plate mounted on said side and covering said lact-mentioned opening, said plate provided with lugs for engaging at opposite sides oi. said last- Sill lOQ

llll

mentioned opening and with spaced lugs at the opposite side, means for securing said plates, tie members and impact bars together, a supporting bar having its ends attached to said plates between said spaced lugs, and means for adjust-ably attaching said supporting; bar to a vehicle frame including a fitting constructed to clamp said supporting bar intermediate the ends thereof and provided With a portion constructed to conform to the vehicle frame, and fastening means for securing the same. to said frame.

5. A device of the character described including' an impact bar, a supporting bar having its ends bent in, opposite directions, means for connecting the ends of the bars together at the bends of the ends of the supporting bar spacing the impact bar and supporting.- bar a greater distance apart at one end than the other, said impact bar being carried solely by said supporting bar, and means for connecting the supporting bar to the vehicle, said supporting; bar being supported solely from one point on the vehicle.

6. A device of the character described including a longitudinally curved impact bar, a supporting bar means for connecting the supporting bar to a vehicle, the outer end of the supporting bar being curved inwardly towards the vehicle to extend parallel with the outer end of the impact bar and the op posite end being bent at right angles away from the vehicle, and means for connecting together the ends of the impact bar and the supporting bar.

7. In a vehicle fender bar of the character described and in combination, a supporting bar having its ends bent in opposite directions, spaced arcuate impact bars. tie members connecting the ends of the impact bars to the ends of the supporting bar, and means for attaching the supporting" bar to a vehicle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

OSCAR E. STOKES. 

